1. Using Geographic Information Systems and the World Wide Web for Interactive Transit Trip Itinerary Planning Brian Smith Center for Transportation Studies University of Virginia

2. Center for Transportation Studies Presentation Outline u Importance of Transit Information u Traditional Approaches u Itinerary Planning Functions u Design Case Study u Lessons Learned u Conclusions

3. Center for Transportation Studies Transit Information u Markets the system u Facilitates system use u Information must be: accessible easy to use “attractive” (perceptions)

4. Center for Transportation Studies Route/Schedule Information u Fundamental u Traditional approaches Printed Brochures Telephone Service

5. Center for Transportation Studies Printed Brochures u Strengths Portable Graphic Little staff support required u Weaknesses No itinerary selection support Static

6. Center for Transportation Studies Telephone Service u Strengths Interactive Direct itinerary selection support u Weaknesses Cost Availability (geographic and temporal) No graphics

7. Center for Transportation Studies Trip Itinerary Planning u Relatively complex process u Printed Brochures Search must be completed by customer u Telephone Service Verbal results only u Key Decisions Spatial Temporal

8. Center for Transportation Studies Spatial Decisions u Determine set of stops accessible from origin Distance Impediments u Determine set of stops accessible from destination u What combinations are feasible given route structure?

9. Center for Transportation Studies Temporal Decisions u Multiobjective Preferred time of departure Preferred time of arrival Minimize total trip time u “Special” service adds to complexity Peak “express” service Weekend schedules

10. Center for Transportation Studies Problem Formulation Minimimze:Total Trip Time Subject To: Spatial Constraints Temporal Constraints System Constraints

11. Center for Transportation Studies Geographic Information Systems u Tool that supports the processing of spatial data into information. DeMers u Traditionally used for planning applications in public transportation u Key Features Spatial analysis (buffers, overlays, etc.) Integration with database management system

12. Center for Transportation Studies World Wide Web u Global information distribution u Unprecedented growth u High degree of interactivity u Flexibility u Graphical user interface

13. Center for Transportation Studies GIS & WWW u Until recently, little to no integration u New products allow the use of the WWW as the “user interface” to GIS u Current applications are relatively simple Serving static maps Limited degree of interactivity

14. Center for Transportation Studies Design Case Study -- Pentran u Prototype trip itinerary planner accessible via WWW. u Primary software tools: VisualBasic MapObjects (Internet Map Server) Access u Pentran drove requirements development

15. Center for Transportation Studies Development Approach u Traditional public transportation GIS applications use “scientific discovery” method. u Transit trip itinerary planner required a structured software development approach Waterfall Rapid prototyping

16. Center for Transportation Studies Prototype Design u Rapid prototyping Allows for early determination if software tools support performance requirements Tangible early results u Study team is nearing the end of the process u Current design document www.people.virginia.edu/~rbs5t/bus/default.htm

17. Center for Transportation Studies Lessons Learned u Detailed design is critical u Database structure importance u Design for maintenance

18. Center for Transportation Studies Design - Origin Input

19. Center for Transportation Studies Prototype - Origin Input

20. Center for Transportation Studies Conclusion u GIS/WWW software can support time- critical public transportation operations applications. u Requires structured software development approach u Potential to provide a very useful trip itinerary planning tool